Improvement in piano-forte actions



UNITED STATES PATENT EET@ aan

CORNELIUS L. TRYING AND A. B. IRVING, .OF FORT WAYNE, lNDlANA,

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59, l 55, dated October 33, 1366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GoRNELiUs L. IRvrNG and ALEXANDER B. lRvING, of Fort Vayne,

`in the county of Allen and State of Indiana,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Fortes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in line x au Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in line i/ y.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction of two distinct series of keys for the piano-forte, arranged upon the same instrument, so as to form octaves in the usual manner. One set of said keys corresponds with those in common use, and may be operated independently of the second or lower series, so as to produce precisely the same effect in tone and volume of sound as that usually produced by an ordinaryinstrument. The second or lower set of keys is arranged in series of octaves corresponding exactly with the first; but the keys are so connected in octaves by a mechanical device that when the operator strikes a key the corresponding key in the octave above, in the first key-board, is also simultaneously struck, while the corresponding key in the octave below remains undisturbed. By this arrangement the performer is enabled, by the use of a single key, to produce octaves upon the piano.

To enable others skilled in the arts to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a key of the ordinary construction, which is mounted on fulcrum a, and is provided with a guide-pin, b, rest c, and stop d. By depressing the outer end of this lever the inner end is elevated, and thus action is communicated to the hammer. Y

B represents a key, which is mounted on ful-V crum c, and is also provided with a guide-pin, f, rest g, and stop It, as seen in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 3. This key is positioned iinmediately below and in line with key A, but having its outer end extended to the front the length of the fingerboard. This key is provided at its inner end with a curved arm, i,

which extends upward and backward, so as to intersect the lower surface of the upper key, A, near its inner end, as seen in 2 and 3. Arm is curved on its under surface in that part which rests on seat j, and is iirinly secured in position by set-screws 7s and l. By loosening one and tightening the other of said screws, the upper end of said curved arm is either elevated or depressed, as the case may require in adjusting the instrument.

Wfhen the outer end of key 5 is depressed the inner end of the same is elevated, and the curved arm in its upward movement acts also to impart a corresponding upward movement to key A, and thus produces precisely the same result on the hammer as would have been produced had the outer end of key A been depressed instead thereof.

Key B has secured to its under surface, near its outer end, a rod, in., which extends vertically through stop h. Its lower end rests on the end of a lever, il, which will be hereinafter described. s

C and D represent keys an octave above keys A and B,which are inform and movement the same, having, however, an additional device or attachment, by which they are connected with keys A and B through the medium of levers a a. This attachment consists of a connecting-rod, 0, which is pivoted near the outer end to the lower surface of key C, as seen in Fig. 3, at 17. Said connecting-rod extends thence vertically through stop d, key D, fulcrum c, and through the inner end of lever aA On the lower end of said connecting-rod is formed a head, which prevents its being withdrawn from the aperture in the end of lever n', in which it is inserted. rIhis aperture through the end of lever a', as well as that through the key through which the connecting-rod passes, is made considerably larger than the rod, to admit its free passage without interference in its downward movement. Thus, when key O is depressed, connecting-rod o is thrust downward without in any way interfering with key D or lever u.

Levers n a are secured in position by means of pivots q q, on which they act, said pivots forming fulcrums, and are positioned equidistant from either end of their respective levers. Said levers extend diagonally from key B to key C in the manner seen in the drawings, Figs. l and 3. These levers are connected together, as seen in Figs. l and 3, at r, or in any other equivalent manner.

The operation of our improvement'is as follows: Vhen key B is submitted to pressure, key A is operated as has been already described. The effect of pressure on key B is also to force rod m vertically onto the outer end of lever n, which is depressed, thus elevating the opposite end, which also elevates the outer end of lever n', and depresses its inner end, to which the connecting-rod ois attached, and thus the connecting-rod, and key O, to which it is attached, is forced downward, and thus keys A and G are simultaneously struck by the simple stroke of key B. Vhen pressure is applied to key D, key C and the corresponding key in the octave above is struck.

Among the advantages attained by the use of this arrangement of key-boards may be enumerated First. We obtain greater volume of sound, as each key operates two hammers, and when two hands are employed infull harmony (each striking four keys) seven hammers strike the strings by each hand.

Second. In playing chromatic passages by single notes, an octave-is made without employing the whole hand, (thumb and fourth finger).

Third. In playing octaves with the thumb and fourth iin ger, three notes oi' the same let-ter (or two octaves) are played.

Fourth. The left hand may be used upon the upper key-board for accompaniment, independent of the coupler of lower key-board, while the right hand remains upon the lower key-board.

That we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of two key-boards with the octave-couplers, constructed and operated inthe manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth and described.

2. The jointed compound levers n n', in combination with rod m and connecting-rod 0, for the purpose specied, the whole being constructed substantially as set forth.

3. Curved arm z', in combination with key A and key B, the same being constructed in the manner and for the purpose described.

CORNELIUS L. IRVING. ALEXANDER B. IRVI'NG. Attest:

H. F. WILLsoN, GEO. W. J oNEs. 

